[ ɔ:'tɒmət(ə)n ]
■ noun ( plural automata -tə or ~s )
1》 a moving mechanical device made in imitation of a human being.
2》 a machine which performs a function according to a set of coded instructions.
Origin
C17: via L. from Gk, neut. of automatos 'acting of itself', from autos 'self'.